Locating a data storage system

ABSTRACT

A method and system for use in locating a data storage system is disclosed. A mobile portable device transmits an activating signal to the data storage system via a wireless communications network. The activating signal transmitted by the mobile portable device is received in the data storage system. The data storage system outputs a readily identifiable human perceptible signal in response to receiving the activating signal in the data storage system. The human perceptible signal facilitates identification of the location of the data storage system.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to locating a data storage system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Computer systems may include different resources used by one or morehost processors. Resources and host processors in a computer system maybe interconnected by one or more communication connections. Theseresources may include, for example, data storage devices such as thoseincluded in the data storage systems manufactured by EMC Corporation.These data storage systems may be coupled to one or more servers or hostprocessors and provide storage services to each host processor. Multipledata storage systems from one or more different vendors may be connectedand may provide common data storage for one or more host processors in acomputer system.

A host processor may perform a variety of data processing tasks andoperations using the data storage system. For example, a host processormay perform basic system I/O operations in connection with datarequests, such as data read and write operations.

Host processor systems may store and retrieve data using a storagedevice containing a plurality of host interface units, disk drives, anddisk interface units. The host systems access the storage device througha plurality of channels provided therewith. Host systems provide dataand access control information through the channels to the storagedevice and the storage device provides data to the host systems alsothrough the channels. The host systems do not address the disk drives ofthe storage device directly, but rather, access what appears to the hostsystems as a plurality of logical disk units. The logical disk units mayor may not correspond to the actual disk drives. Allowing multiple hostsystems to access the single storage device unit allows the host systemsto share data in the device. In order to facilitate sharing of the dataon the device, additional software on the data storage systems may alsobe used. In a common implementation, a Storage Area Network (SAN) isused to connect computing devices with a large number of storagedevices. Management and modeling programs may be used to manage thesecomplex computing environments, which may be, include, or be included ina data center.

A data center refers to processing functionality for performing one ormore prescribed processing tasks. In one common application, forexample, a provider may use a data center to implement any kind ofnetwork-accessible service (such as an Email service, search service,and so on). In some cases, the provider may use a specially designedcomputer room within a general purpose facility to implement the datacenter. For a particularly large-scale service, the provider may devoteone or more separate facilities to implement the data center.

It will be appreciated that in recent time such data centers have grownsubstantially in size. It will be known that such modern data centersmay comprise a plurality of data center equipment such as data storagesystems. For example, the data center may comprise hundreds or thousandsof discrete data storage systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method and system for use in locating a data storage system isdisclosed. A mobile portable device transmits an activating signal tothe data storage system via a wireless communications network. Theactivating signal transmitted by the mobile portable device is receivedin the data storage system. The data storage system outputs a readilyidentifiable human perceptible signal in response to receiving theactivating signal in the data storage system. The human perceptiblesignal facilitates identification of the location of the data storagesystem.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features and advantages of the present invention will become moreapparent from the following detailed description of exemplaryembodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawingsin which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a data center that may be used with thetechnique described herein;

FIG. 2 is a block diagrams of an example device and system that may beused with the technique described herein;

FIG. 3A is a perspective diagram of a front of the example device ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 3B is a perspective diagram of a backside of the example device ofFIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of processing steps that may be performed in anembodiment in accordance with techniques described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention can be implemented in numerous ways, including as aprocess, an apparatus, a system, a computer program embodied on acomputer readable storage medium, and/or a processor, such as aprocessor configured to execute instructions stored on and/or providedby a memory coupled to the processor. In this specification, theimplementations, or any other form that the invention may take, may bereferred to as techniques. In general, the order of the steps ofdisclosed processes may be altered within the scope of the invention.Unless stated otherwise, a component such as a processor or a memorydescribed as being configured to perform a task may be implemented as ageneral component that is temporarily configured to perform the task ata given time or a specific component that is manufactured to perform thetask. As used herein, the term ‘processor’ refers to one or moredevices, circuits, and/or processing cores configured to process data,such as computer program instructions.

A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the invention isprovided below along with accompanying figures that illustrate theprinciples of the invention. The invention is described in connectionwith such embodiments, but the invention is not limited to anyembodiment. The scope of the invention is limited only by the claims andthe invention encompasses numerous alternatives, modifications andequivalents. Numerous specific details are set forth in the followingdescription in order to provide a thorough understanding of theinvention. These details are provided for the purpose of example and theinvention may be practiced according to the claims without some or allof these specific details. For the purpose of clarity, technicalmaterial that is known in the technical fields related to the inventionhas not been described in detail so that the invention is notunnecessarily obscured.

Described below is a technique for use in locating a data storagesystem. If an individual has the co-ordinates of the location of a datastorage system the individual may use global positioning system(hereinafter “GPS”) on a mobile device to locate the general area of thedata storage system. However, it may occasionally be difficult to locatethe data storage system as most GPS receivers are accurate only towithin three to fifteen meters. Therefore, the GPS allows an individualto get a general sense only of the location of the data storage system.

The technique as described herein allows the individual within aspecific range to use a mobile application to automatically interactwith the data storage system so that the data storage system may outputan indicator such as flashing LEDs. In addition to this feature, thetechnique can support the ability to upload or create a floor plan thatwould provide directions around obstacles.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated an example of an embodiment ofa computer system that may be used in connection with performing thetechnique described herein. A data center 1100 may include zones 1110,1120, 1130, 1140, and 1150 with each zone representing a grouping ofstorage component and/or a different type of data storage or processing.For example, the zone 1150 may represent data processing or servers forvirtual machines and the zone 1110 may represent data storage systems.There is also illustrated an individual 1145 using a mobile portablecomputing device 1135 in accordance with the technique as describedherein to locate a data storage system 1155 in the data center 1100. Thetechnique will be described in further detail below.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a block diagram of the mobileportable computing device 1135 according to one example embodiment. Thedevice 1135 may include a mobile phone, a smart phone, a laptopcomputer, a digital broadcast terminal, a personal digital assistant(PDA), a portable multimedia player (PMP), a navigation system and/orthe like. The device 1135 may comprise a wireless communication unit110, an A/V (audio/video) input unit 120, a user input unit 130, asensing unit 140, an output unit 150 having a display 151, a memory 160,an interface unit 170, a controller 180, a power supply unit 190, alocking set-up unit 195 and the like. The figure illustrates the device1135 having various components, although all the illustrated componentsmay not be a requirement. It will be appreciated that greater or fewercomponents may alternatively be implemented.

The wireless communication unit 110 may include one or more componentsthat permit wireless communication between the device 1135 and awireless communication system or network within which device 1135 islocated. For example, the wireless communication unit 110 may include abroadcast receiving module 111, a mobile communication module 112, awireless Internet module 113, a short-range communication module 114, aposition determining module 115 and/or the like. The broadcast receivingmodule 111 may receive a broadcast signal and/or broadcast associatedinformation from an external broadcast managing server via a broadcastchannel, and the broadcast signal and/or broadcast associatedinformation received by the broadcast receiving module 111 may be storedin a suitable device, such as the memory 160. The mobile communicationmodule 112 may transmit/receive wireless signals to/from one or morenetwork entities (e.g., base station, external terminal, server, etc.).The wireless Internet module 113 may support Internet access for thedevice 1135. This module may be internally or externally coupled to thedevice 1135. In this case, the wireless Internet technology can includeWLAN (Wireless LAN) (Wi-Fi), Wibro (Wireless broadband), Wimax (WorldInteroperability for Microwave Access), HSDPA (High Speed DownlinkPacket Access), etc. The short-range communication module 114 mayfacilitate relatively short-range communications. Suitable technologiesfor implementing this module include radio frequency identification(RFID), infrared data association (IrDA), ultra-wideband (UWB), as wellas the networking technologies commonly referred to as Bluetooth andZigBee, to name a few. The position determining module 115 may identifyor otherwise obtain the location or position of the device 1135. Thismodule may be a GPS module.

The audio/video (A/V) input unit 120 may provide audio or video signalinputs to the device 1135. The A/V input unit 120 may include a camera121 and a microphone 122. The camera 121 may receive and process imageframes of still pictures or videos that are obtained by an image sensorin a video call mode or a photograph mode. The processed image framesmay be displayed on the display 151. The image frames processed by thecamera 121 may be stored in the memory 160 or may be externallytransmitted via the wireless communication unit 110. It will beappreciated that two or more cameras 121 may be provided to the device1135 based on environment of usage. The microphone 122 may receive anexternal audio signal while the device 1135 is in a particular mode,such as phone call mode, a recording mode and/or a voice recognitionmode. The audio signal may be processed and converted into electricaudio data. The processed audio data may be transformed into a formattransmittable to a mobile communication base station via the mobilecommunication module 112 in case of a call mode. The microphone 122 mayinclude noise removing algorithms (or noise canceling algorithms) toremove or reduce noise generated in the course of receiving the externalaudio signal.

The user input unit 130 may generate input data responsive to usermanipulation of an associated input device or devices. For example, thedevice may include a keypad, a dome switch, a touchpad (e.g., staticpressure/capacitance), a jog wheel, a jog switch, and the like.

The sensing unit 140 may provide sensing signals for controllingoperations of the device 1135 using status measurements of variousaspects of the device 1135. For example, the sensing unit 140 may detectan open/close status of the device 1135, relative positioning ofcomponents (e.g., a display and a keypad) of the device 1135, a positionchange of the device 1135 or a component of the device 1135, a presenceor an absence of user contact with the device 1135, orientation oracceleration/deceleration of the device 1135. For example, the device1135 may be configured as a slide-type mobile terminal. The sensing unit140 may sense whether a sliding portion of the device 1135 is open orclosed. Other such examples may include the sensing unit 140 sensingpresence or absence of power provided by the power supply 190, presenceor absence of a coupling or other connection between the interface unit170 and an external device. The sensing unit 140 may include a proximitysensor 141 and a touch sensor 142.

The output unit 150 may generate outputs perceptible to the senses suchas sight, hearing, touch and the like. The output unit 150 may includethe display 151, an audio output module 152, an alarm 153 and a hapticmodule 154. The display 151 may visually display (i.e., output)information associated with the device 1135. For example, if the device1135 is operated in a phone call mode, the display 151 may provide auser interface (UI) or a graphical user interface (GUI) that includesinformation associated with placing, conducting, and/or terminating aphone call. If the device 1135 is in a video call mode or a photographmode, the display 151 may additionally or alternatively displayinformation associated with these modes. The display 151 may beimplemented using known display technologies including, for example, aliquid crystal display (LCD), a thin film transistor-liquid crystaldisplay (TFT-LCD), an organic light-emitting diode display (OLED), aflexible display and a three-dimensional (3-D) display. The device 1135may include one or more such displays. Some of the displays may beimplemented in a transparent or optical transmittive type that can becalled a transparent display. A transparent OLED (or TOLED) may be anexample of the transparent display. The display 151 may also beimplemented as the optical transmittive type. In this configuration, auser may see an object in rear of a terminal body via an area occupiedby the display 151 of the terminal body. It will be appreciated that atleast two displays 151 may be provided on the device 1135 based on theconfiguration of the device 1135. For example, a plurality of displaysmay be arranged on a single face of the device 1135 by being spacedapart from each other or by being built in one body. A plurality ofdisplays may be arranged on different faces of the device 1135.

In a case where the display 151 and the touch sensor 142 for detecting atouch action are configured in a mutual layer structure (hereinafter “atouch screen”), the display 151 may be used as an input device as wellas an output device. The touch sensor 142 may be configured as a touchfilm, a touch sheet, a touchpad and/or the like. The touch sensor 142may convert a pressure applied to a specific portion of the display 151or a variation of a capacitance generated from a specific portion of thedisplay 151 to an electric input signal. The touch sensor 142 may detecta pressure of a touch as well as a touched position or size. A separatepressure sensor may detect pressure of the touch. If a touch input isprovided to the touch sensor 142, signal(s) corresponding to the touchmay be transferred to a touch controller. The touch controller mayprocess the signal(s) and then transfer the processed signal(s) to thecontroller 180. The controller 180 may determine whether a prescribedportion of the display 151 is touched.

The proximity sensor 141 may also be provided to an internal area of thedevice 1135 enclosed by the touch screen and/or around the touch screen.The proximity sensor 141 may detect a presence or non-presence of anobject approaching a prescribed detecting surface or an object existingaround the proximity sensor 141 using an electromagnetic field strengthor infrared ray without mechanical contact. The proximity sensor 141 mayhave longer durability than a contact type sensor and may also have awider utility than the contact type sensor. The proximity sensor 141 mayinclude one of a transmittive photoelectric sensor, a direct reflectivephotoelectric sensor, a mirror reflective photoelectric sensor, a radiofrequency oscillation proximity sensor, an electrostatic capacityproximity sensor, a magnetic proximity sensor, an infrared proximitysensor and the like. If the touch screen includes the electrostaticcapacity proximity sensor, the proximity of a pointer may be detectedusing a variation of electric field according to proximity of thepointer. The touch screen (i.e., touch sensor) may be classified as theproximity sensor 141. In the following description, an action in which apointer approaches without contacting the touch screen may be called aproximity touch. An action in which a pointer actually touches the touchscreen may be called a contact touch. The meaning of the position on thetouch screen proximity-touched by the pointer may define a position ofthe pointer that vertically opposes the touch screen when the pointerperforms the proximity touch. The proximity sensor 141 may detect aproximity touch and a proximity touch pattern (e.g., a proximity touchdistance, a proximity touch duration, a proximity touch position, aproximity touch shift state, etc.). Information corresponding to thedetected proximity touch action and the detected proximity touch patternmay be outputted to the touch screen.

The audio output module 152 may function in various modes including acall-receiving mode, a call-placing mode, a recording mode, a voicerecognition mode, a broadcast reception mode and/or the like to outputaudio data that is received from the wireless communication unit 110 oris stored in the memory 160. During operation, the audio output module152 may output an audio signal relating to a particular function (e.g.,a call received, a message received, etc.). The audio output module 152may be implemented using one or more speakers, buzzers, other audioproducing devices, and/or combinations thereof.

The alarm 153 may output a signal for announcing an occurrence of aparticular event associated with the device 1135. Events may include acall received event, a message received event and a touch input receivedevent. The alarm 153 may output a signal for announcing the eventoccurrence by way of vibration as well as video or audio signal. Thevideo or audio signal may be outputted via the display 151 or the audiooutput unit 152. The display 151 or the audio output module 152 may beregarded as a part of the alarm 153.

The haptic module 154 may generate various tactile effects that can besensed by a user. Vibration may be a representative one of the tactileeffects generated by the haptic module 154. Strength and pattern of thevibration generated by the haptic module 154 may be controllable. Forexample, different vibrations may be outputted by being combined (orsynthesized) together or may be outputted in sequence. The haptic module154 may generate various tactile effects as well as vibrations. Forexample, the haptic module 154 may generate an effect attributed to thearrangement of pins vertically moving against a contact skin surface, aneffect attributed to injection/suction power of air through aninjection/suction hole, an effect attributed to a skim over a skinsurface, an effect attributed to a contact with an electrode, an effectattributed to an electrostatic force, an effect attributed torepresentation of warm/cold sense using an endothermic or exothermicdevice and/or the like. The haptic module 154 may enable a user to sensea tactile effect through a muscle sense of a finger, an arm or the likeas well as to transfer the tactile effect through a direct contact. Atleast two haptic modules 154 may be provided on the device 1135 based ona corresponding configuration type of the device 1135.

The memory 160 may store programs for operating the controller 180. Thememory 160 may temporarily store input/output data such as phonebookdata, message data, still image, and/or moving image. Data for variouspatterns of vibration and/or sound outputted in case of a touch input tothe touch screen may be stored in the memory 160. The memory 160 may beimplemented using any type or combination of suitable volatile andnon-volatile memories or storage devices including a hard disk, a randomaccess memory (RAM), a static random access memory (SRAM), anelectrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), anerasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), a programmable read-onlymemory (PROM), a read-only memory (ROM), a magnetic memory, a flashmemory, a magnetic or optical disk, a multimedia card micro type memory,a card-type memory (e.g., SD memory, XD memory, etc.) and/or othersimilar memory or data storage device.

The interface unit 170 may couple the device 1135 with external devices.The interface unit 170 may receive data from the external devices or maybe supplied with power and then transfer the data or power to respectiveelements of the device 1135 or enable data within the device 1135 to betransferred to the external devices. For example, when the device 1135is connected to an external cradle, the interface unit 170 may become apassage for supplying the device 1135 with power from the cradle or apassage for delivering various command signals inputted from the cradleby a user to the device 1135. The interface unit 170 may also beconfigured using a wired/wireless headset port, an external chargerport, a wired/wireless data port, a memory card port, a port forcoupling to a device having an identity module, audio input/outputports, video input/output ports, an earphone port and/or the like. Theidentity module may be a chip for storing various kinds of informationfor authenticating a use authority of the device 1135 and may include aUser Identify Module (UIM), a Subscriber Identify Module (SIM), aUniversal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) and/or the like. A devicehaving an identity module (hereinafter “identity device”) may bemanufactured as a smart card. The identity device may be connectable tothe device 1135 via a relevant port.

The controller 180 may control overall operations of the device 1135.For example, the controller 180 may perform control and processingassociated with voice calls, data communications, video calls, etc. Thecontroller 180 may include a multimedia module 181 that providesmultimedia playback. The multimedia module 181 may be configured as partof the controller 180, or may be implemented as a separate component.The controller 180 may have a time counting function. The controller 180may also perform a pattern recognizing process for recognizing a writinginput or a picture drawing input carried out on the touch screen ascharacters or images, respectively.

It will be appreciated that the power supply unit 190 may provide apower required by various components of the device 1135. The power maybe internal power, external power, and/or a combination thereof.

It will also be appreciated that embodiments may be implemented in acomputer-readable medium using, for example, computer software,hardware, and/or some combination thereof. For hardware implementation,embodiments may be implemented using one or more applications ofspecific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs),digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices(PLDs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), processors, controllers,micro-controllers, microprocessors, other electronic units designed toperform functions described herein, and/or a selective combinationthereof. Embodiments may also be implemented by the controller 180. Forsoftware implementation, embodiments may be implemented with separatesoftware modules, such as procedures and functions, each of which mayperform one or more of the functions and operations described herein.The software codes may be implemented with a software applicationwritten in any suitable programming language and may be stored in thememory 160, and executed by a controller or a processor, such as thecontroller 180.

Referring to FIG. 3A, there is illustrated a front view of a device 1135according to an example embodiment. It will be appreciated that otherembodiments, arrangements and configurations may also be provided. Thedevice 1135 may have a bar type terminal body. Embodiments of the device1135 may be implemented in a variety of other configurations. Examplesof such configurations may include a folder-type, a slide-type, abar-type, a rotational-type, a swing-type and/or combinations thereof.The body may include a case (e.g., a casing, a housing, a cover) thatform an exterior of the device. The case may be divided into a frontcase 101 and a rear case 102. The various electric/electronic parts maybe provided in a space between the front case 101 and the rear case 102.The display 151, the audio output unit 152, the camera 121, the userinput unit 130 (including first and second manipulation units 131, 132),the microphone 122, the interface unit 170 and the like may be providedon the device body. The display 151 may occupy most of a main face ofthe front case 101. The audio output module 152 and the camera 121 maybe provided at an area adjacent to one end portion of the display 151,while the first manipulation unit 131 and the microphone 122 may beprovided at another area adjacent to the other end portion of thedisplay 151. The second manipulation unit 132 and the interface unit 170may be provided on lateral sides of the front and rear cases 101 and102.

The user input unit 130 may receive a command for controlling anoperation of the device 1135. The user input unit 130 may include thefirst and second manipulating units 131 and 132. The first and secondmanipulating units 131 and 132 may be called a manipulating portion andmay adopt any mechanism of a tactile manner that enables a user toperform a manipulation action. Content inputted by the firstmanipulating unit 131 or the second manipulating unit 132 may bediversely set. For example, a command such as a start, an end, a scrolland/or the like may be inputted to the first manipulating unit 131. Acommand for a volume adjustment of sound outputted from the audio outputunit 152, a command for a switching to a touch recognizing mode of thedisplay 151 and/or the like may be inputted to the second manipulatingunit 132.

Referring to FIG. 3B, there is illustrated a view of a backside of thedevice shown in FIG. 3A. It will be appreciated that other embodiments,arrangements and configurations may also be provided. A camera 121′ maybe additionally provided on a backside of the device body, and moreparticularly on the rear case 102. The camera 121′ may have aphotographing direction that is substantially opposite to aphotographing direction of the camera 121 and may have pixels differingfrom pixels of the camera 121. For example, the camera 121 may have alower number of pixels to capture and transmit a picture of a user facefor a video call, while the camera 121′ may have a greater number ofpixels for capturing a general subject for photography withouttransmitting the captured subject. Each of the cameras 121 and 121′ maybe provided on the device body to be rotated and/or popped up. A flash123 and a mirror 124 may be additionally provided adjacent to the camera121′. The flash 123 may project light toward a subject in case ofphotographing the subject using the camera 121′. If a user attempts totake a picture of the user (i.e., self-photography) using the camera121′, the minor 124 may enable the user to view a user face reflected bythe minor 124. An additional audio output unit 152′ may be provided on abackside of the device body. The additional audio output unit 152′ mayimplement a stereo function together with the audio output unit 152 andmay be used for implementation of a speakerphone mode in talking overthe device 1135. A broadcast signal receiving antenna (not shown) may beadditionally provided at the lateral side of the device body as well asan antenna for communication or the like. The antenna may be consideredas a portion of the broadcast receiving module 111 and/or may beretractably provided on the device body. The power supply unit 190 forsupplying a power to the device 1135 may be provided with respect to thedevice body. The power supply unit 190 may be built within the devicebody. Alternatively, the power supply unit 190 may be detachablyconnected to the device body. The figure also illustrates a touchpad 135for detecting a touch that is additionally provided on the rear case102. The touchpad 135 may be configured as a light transmittive type. Ifthe display 151 outputs visual information from both faces, the display151 may also recognize visual information via the touchpad 135. Theinformation outputted from both of the faces may be controlled by thetouchpad 135.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is illustrated a technique 400 for use inlocating a data storage system. For example, the data storage system maybe the data storage system 1155 located in the data center 1100 asillustrated in FIG. 1. It will be appreciated that the technique may besuitable for use in locating the data storage system 1155 in the datacenter 1100. The technique comprises transmitting 410 from a mobileportable device an activating signal to the data storage system via awireless communications network. It will be appreciated from theforegoing figures that the mobile portable device may be the device 1135as described above. It will also be appreciated that the device 1135 maytransmit the activating signal using the wireless communication unit110. For example, the mobile communication module 112 within the unit110 may transmit a wireless signal to the data storage system.Alternatively, the short-range communication module 114 within the unit110 may transmit the activating signal facilitating relativelyshort-range communication between the device 1135 and the data storagesystem. It will be known by those skilled in the art that technologiesfor implementing the short-range communication module may include radiofrequency identification (RFID), infrared data association (IrDA),ultra-wideband (UWB), as well as the networking technologies commonlyreferred to as Bluetooth and ZigBee, to name a few. The techniquecomprises receiving 420 in the data storage system the activating signaltransmitted by the mobile portable device. It will be appreciated thatthe data storage system may comprise a receiver for receiving theactivating signal transmitted by the mobile portable device. It willalso be appreciated that the activating signal transmitted by the devicemay comprise a signal indicative of the identity of the mobile portabledevice such that the identity of the device can be identified. In such ascenario, the data storage system may receive the signal as well asconfirming the identity of the mobile portable device from which thesignal has been transmitted. Additionally, the technique comprisesoutputting 430 from the data storage system a readily identifiable humanperceptible signal in response to receiving the activating signal in thedata storage system. It will be appreciated the technique may output thehuman perceptible signal in response to receiving the signal andconfirming the identity of the mobile portable device. The humanperceptible signal may facilitate identification of the location of thedata storage system in the data center. It will be appreciated that thehuman perceptible signal may be a visual signal, for example, a lightsignal. In one embodiment, the light signal may flash intermittentlysuch that an individual seeking the data storage system may be able tolocate the system. For example, the light signal may be outputted on oneor more LED located on or local to the data storage system. It will beappreciated that the data storage system may be configured to operatethe at least one LED for a defined period of time for indicating thelocation of the data storage system. Alternatively, the data storagesystem may output the human perceptible signal as an audio signal. Theaudio signal may be outputted on a speaker for a defined period of timefor indicating the location of the data storage system. It will also beappreciated in other embodiments the human perceptible signal may beoutputted by the data storage system until the user of the mobileportable device selectively switches the signal off. For example, theuser may use the device to switch the signal off or manually operate aswitch on the system in order to switch the signal off.

It will be appreciated that an individual may store the co-ordinates ofthe location of the data storage system. In such a scenario, the device1135 as described above may be able to locate the general area oflocation of the data storage system. For example, the device 1135 mayuse the position determining module 115 in the device 1135 to locate thegeneral area in which the data storage system is located. However, aposition determining module such as a GPS module may not be able tolocate the exact location of the data storage system. A GPS module maytypically locate the data storage system to within three to fifteenmeters. If a data center contains a plurality of data storage systems itmay be time consuming to locate the data storage system as it may benecessary to distinguish between one data storage system and anothersimilar data storage system relatively close to the data storage systemof interest. The mobile communication module 112 or the short-rangecommunication module 114 within the unit 110 of the device 1135 mayprovide a quick solution by transmitting an activating signal to thedata storage system. The data storage system may be configured to outputa human perceptible signal in response to receiving the activatingsignal. The human perceptible signal may be a flashing light or a soundreadily discernible by an individual so as to assist in locating theexact location of the data storage system. The technique has advantagessuch as saving an individual time locating the data storage system. Forexample, the individual may have to perform firmware upgrades inconnection with a plurality of data storage systems in a data center.The aggregate time saved locating each data storage system may beconsiderable by using the above technique. The technique may also saveadministrative work recording the exact location of the data storagesystem.

It will also be appreciated that the technique described herein could beused with various other techniques for locating the data storage system.For example, a user could create or upload an image of a floor plan tothe mobile device or to a management server accessible to the mobiledevice. The floor plan may be the layout of the building floor in whichthe data storage system is located. If the user is aware of theco-ordinates or the like of the data storage system, the user may locatethe general area of the data storage system by virtue of the floor planand the position determining module in the mobile device. It will beappreciated that the floor plan could be used together with the mobiledevice and the position determining module to determine directions fromthe users current location to a particular storage system by heuristics,for example, don't walk through walls, go through certain doors, don'twalk through desks or racks. When the user gets to the general area ofthe data storage system the user may implement the technique describedherein such that the data storage system may output a human perceptiblesignal for facilitating identification of the location of the datastorage system.

While the invention has been disclosed in connection with preferredembodiments shown and described in detail, their modifications andimprovements thereon will become readily apparent to those skilled inthe art. Accordingly, the spirit and scope of the present inventionshould be limited only by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: receiving, by a datastorage system, an activating signal, wherein the data storage systemcomprises data storage devices; outputting, by the data storage system,a readily identifiable human perceptible signal in response to receivingthe activating signal, wherein the human perceptible signal facilitatesidentification of the location of the data storage system; and inresponse to a selective action by a user, switching off the readilyidentifiable human perceptible signal.
 2. The method as claimed in claim1, wherein the human perceptible signal is outputted as a light signal.3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the human perceptiblesignal is outputted as a light signal flashing intermittently.
 4. Themethod as claimed in claim 1, wherein the human perceptible signal isoutputted as a light signal on at least one LED.
 5. The method asclaimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one LED is located on the datastorage system.
 6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the humanperceptible signal is outputted as an audio signal on a speaker.
 7. Themethod as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile portable devicetransmits an activating signal with the assistance of a mobilecommunication module in the device.
 8. The method as claimed in claim 1,wherein the mobile portable device transmits an activating signal withthe assistance of a short-range communication module in the device. 9.The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile portable devicetransmits an activating signal comprising a signal indicative of theidentity of the device such that the data storage system can determinethe identity of the device.
 10. A system, comprising: first logicreceiving, by a data storage system, an activating signal, wherein thedata storage system comprises data storage devices; second logicoutputting, by the data storage system, a readily identifiable humanperceptible signal in response to receiving the activating signal,wherein the human perceptible signal facilitates identification of thelocation of the data storage system; and in response to a selectiveaction by a user, third logic switching off the readily identifiablehuman perceptible signal.
 11. The system as claimed in claim 10, whereinthe human perceptible signal is outputted as a light signal.
 12. Thesystem as claimed in claim 10, wherein the human perceptible signal isoutputted as a light signal flashing intermittently.
 13. The system asclaimed in claim 10, wherein the human perceptible signal is outputtedas a light signal on at least one LED.
 14. The system as claimed inclaim 13, wherein the at least one LED is located on the data storagesystem.
 15. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the humanperceptible signal is outputted as an audio signal on a speaker.
 16. Thesystem as claimed in claim 10, wherein the mobile portable devicetransmits an activating signal with the assistance of a mobilecommunication module in the device.
 17. The system as claimed in claim10, wherein the mobile portable device transmits an activating signalwith the assistance of a short-range communication module in the device.18. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the mobile portabledevice transmits an activating signal comprising a signal indicative ofthe identity of the device such that the data storage system candetermine the identity of the device.